Programs
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Washington (OLLI-UW) offers a range of programs for intellectually curious adults over the age of 50. We’re currently offering both in-person and Zoom courses.
Courses
OLLI-UW courses cover engaging subjects ranging from global events to the arts, from health science research to compelling issues of the day. Current and retired UW faculty or experts from the community lead the courses.
We offer a full schedule of more than 20 courses in autumn, winter and spring. Courses typically meet weekly for two hours for three to five weeks. Other courses are offered as a single session. OLLI-UW members pay a fee of $35–$100 per course, depending on the number of sessions.
- To register by phone, please call the registration team at 206-543-2310.
- If you have any questions about courses or signing in, please email us or call 206-685-6549.
Course Packages
OLLI-UW members can now enjoy three-course ($235) and six-course ($450) package deals. Three-, four- and five-week courses are eligible for this deal. Osher Online courses and field trips are not eligible.
Osher Online
OLLI-UW is piloting a new partnership with Osher Online, a program developed by the National Resource Center (NRC) that acts as a central resource for all Osher Institutes (there are 125 in the U.S.). Osher Online offers online programs for any Osher Institute and its members, organized by the NRC.
Here's how you can participate:
- Register for a course and pay OLLI-UW, and we’ll pass on your name and email to the NRC.
- NRC will host a couple of orientation sessions to help you get familiar with the various resources.
- Osher Online will send you the Zoom login information, and you’ll have the chance to engage with speakers and members nationally.
- Courses are six sessions long and cost $105.
- Courses are not eligible for the course package deals.
- Check the course links for the registration deadline.
We hope you enjoy this new addition to our Osher Institute. Please email us if you have any questions.
September 2025 Courses & Field Trips
In-Person
- Expeditions & Exhibitions
- William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew
- Gardening With the Seasons: Fall (Field Trip)
- The City & the Sound: Seattle’s Waterfront Architecture Tour (Field Trip)
- Olympic Sculpture Park Tour (Field Trip)
Zoom
- The Rise & Fall of Patriarchy — A Sociological Account
- Themes in Philosophy 3
- Writing Your Personal Essay
- The Weimar Republic
October 2025 Courses & Field Trips
In-Person
- The Age of Artificial Intelligence
- Avian Engineers: How Birds Build Nests
- Human Language: Uniqueness & Origins
- Writing a Memoir: Your Story of Becoming
- Great Women Artists: An Introduction
- The Topical Constitution — Four Topics Related to Our Time
- America in the 1790s
- History of Washington State
Zoom
- Legendary Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes: Tales from the Inland Seas (Osher Online — Register by October 1)
- The Life & Times of Nikola Tesla (Osher Online — Register by October 1)
- In Darwin’s Footsteps: A Journey to the Galapagos (Osher Online — Register by October 8)
- Inequality & Economic Policy (Osher Online — Register by October 8)
- Geology of National Parks 2
- Great Guides of the Beloved: Female Mystics & Spiritual Teachers
- Masters of the Baroque Period
- Rock Year by Year 1966-1969
- Screenwriting: Writing Great Scenes
- Southeast Asia Unveiled: Stories of a Changing Region
November 2025 Courses
In-Person
- The Ice Age Floods Story
- Icons of American Art: An Introduction
- Shakespeare’s Richard III
- Opera: Its Legendary Stars & Greatest Moments
Zoom
Monthly Lecture Series
These lectures are talks by experts on a wide range of subjects. Lectures are free for OLLI-UW members and available in several locations or online via Zoom. Members are invited to bring their lunch and a guest. Once a quarter, OLLI-UW hosts a Community Zoom Lecture that is open to the general public. In-person lectures are also typically open to the public; click on the specific lecture for details.
Upcoming Lectures
New lectures are added frequently and may not be added to this page. Visit the monthly lectures page often to see all scheduled talks.
September
- 9/5/2025: All About Whales (In-Person & Zoom)
- 9/9/2025: Crows: The Avian Einsteins (Zoom)
- 9/19/2025: I've Got the Music in Me (In-Person)
- 9/26/2025: Washington’s Volcanic Geoscape (Zoom)
October
- 10/3/2025: It Happened in Laurel Canyon: The Birth of California Folk Rock (In-Person & Zoom)
- 10/8/2025: When Your Grandpa Is a Bot: AI, Death & Digital Doppelgangers (Zoom)
- 10/17/2025: The Roots of Rockabilly (In-Person)
- 10/20/2025: The Wild Falcons of Seattle (In-Person)
- 10/24/2025: Bats are Everywhere (Zoom)
November
- 11/5/2025: Accelerating Problem Solving with AI (Zoom)
- 11/14/2025: Vera Rubin Telescope (In-Person)
- 11/19/2025: The Madwoman in the Parlor: Women, the Gothic & Literary Haunting (Zoom)
December
- 12/17/2025: 20th-Century Art & Politics (Zoom)
Study Groups
Designed and led by members, Osher study groups are an exclusive, free benefit for all OLLI-UW members. Study groups offer self-directed learning opportunities focused on an engaging topic for an extended period. While delving into a topic area, you’ll foster connections with community members who share similar interests.
Have an idea for a study group? We can help you bring it to life. Staff will work with you to create, schedule and promote the group to fellow members. Contact our office with your idea; reach us by email or phone at 206-685-6549.
Special Events
Guided museum and garden tours, summer field trips and other special events are offered periodically throughout the year. Some events charge a small fee.